AAUW National Board Chair Julia Brown comments on outcome
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May 2021, Issue 5.3
Advancing equity for women and girls through research, education, and advocacy. www.aauwstatecollege.org
The AAUW National Election concluded this May, and the ballot initiative to
eliminate the membership requirement got 63% of the vote, which was just below the two-thirds majority
needed to enact a bylaw change.
AAUW National Board Chair Julia Brown comments on outcome:
“The board-recommended ballot initiative to remove the college-degree membership
requirement did not receive the two-thirds, or 66.6%, vote required to enact a bylaws change.
The board is heartened that a remarkable 63% voted in favor of making this change, indicating
a momentum shift toward a more inclusive membership. This was a significantly higher
number than previous votes, which hovered just below 50% to make the change.” While we
have many voices, I know we all share the same commitment to AAUW’s mission of advancing
gender equity for women and girls through research, education, and advocacy, and our vision
of achieving equity for all. More than ever, we must embrace our values and continue to strive
towards diversity, equity, and inclusion; it’s a journey that will never end.”
Ann Pehle, AAUW Pennsylvania President reacted: “On the AAUW website, you can find a summary of the
results and data on total votes cast by members of branches and national members and interactive maps
showing the percentage approval for the Public Policy Priorities and Bylaw Change (hover over a state to
reveal the percentage). The bylaw change required 66.6% approval and received 63%. Pennsylvania approval
was 64.09%. I am sure many of you share my profound disappointment with the results. I am extremely
pleased with your attention to this issue and the effort of you and your Board to inform members of the issue
and encourage every branch member to vote. Thank you to Jordan Glover, AAUW Pennsylvania Diversity &
Inclusion Chair, for creating many and varied resources. Thank you to branch Boards for your commitment to
transparency, informing, and having difficult conversations.”
We congratulate this year’s scholarship recipients and wish them the
very best as they continue their studies.
We have invited them to join us at our June 23rd Branch Celebration and look forward to meeting them then!
--Suzanne Kerlin and Falene Hamilton, Scholarship Committee Co-Chairs
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HAFSA KARACA is a political asylee from Turkey where her university was closed down
by the government, thus interrupting her education. An arrest warrant was issued in her
name because of her political opinions. She and her family left Turkey for Kazakhstan
and then Florida where she attended Seminole State College. Hafsa and her family
moved to State College. She took time off college to work because she was unable to
afford Penn State tuition. She is now studying full-time at Penn State for a Bachelor of
Science in Biobehavioral Health. Hafsa has a rich history of volunteerism. She
volunteers at PAWS and at the AAUW State College Used Book Workshop on Monday
nights. Hafsa is receiving the Suzanne McCrae Kerlin Scholarship.
ROBIN MONTARSI is attending Penn State on a part-time basis and studying for a
Bachelor of Science in Integrated Social Sciences. She was laid off from her job at Penn
State due to COVID-19, thus losing the employee discount and her income. She attended
Pennsylvania College of Technology in 1991 and interrupted her studies when she
married and had her daughter. Over the past three years, Robin has volunteered at
Juniper Village visiting the residents with her dog. Robin is receiving the Simmons-
Jansma Project Renew Grant.
Come and celebrate our branch accomplishments together and welcome new
members. We will honor our scholarship recipients, recognize branch
awardees, and celebrate the successful move into our new Workshop.
The Celebration will be held on Wednesday, June 23rd at 5:30 pm at our new
Used Book Workshop, 2197 High Tech Road, State College (opposite the
airport and on the road between State of the Art and Cannon Industries).
We expect to be outside enjoying the warm weather. If it rains, we will move into the workshop. A box dinner
will be provided along with beverages and dessert. We only ask that attendees bring their own folding chair.
The new branch notecards (with a lovely floral painting by member Ann Echols) will be available for purchase
there, (4-packs for $5; 8-packs for $10).
If you have a family member, friend, or colleague who is interested in learning more about AAUW and perhaps
becoming a member of our branch, this is a perfect opportunity to invite them to join you.
The event is jointly planned by the Awards, Program, and Scholarship Committees, led by Chriss Schultz
(Awards), Naana Nti and Nina Cowart (Programs), and Falene Hamilton and Suzanne Kerlin (Scholarship).
Reservations are required and are due by June 16th to Suzanne Kerlin. Call or text her at (814) 360-1177 or
email: suziekerlin@gmail.com.
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Thank you to all who have renewed your membership for 2021-2022. Our
new membership year commences July 1st. A personalized AAUW
membership renewal was sent to all branch members via email from
memberinfo@aauw.org on April 9th and most recently on May 24th. If you have not yet renewed your
membership, please locate the email and follow the instructions provided. You will receive an email
confirmation upon completion. If you prefer to send a check and a printed membership form through the U.S.
mail, please contact Cindy Hall, 814-571-6472, cindyhall07@gmail.com. A printable form is available on our
website: https://aauwstatecollege.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Membership-Form-3-2021.pdf.
With our 2021-2022 membership year commencing July 1, now is the time to
extend an invitation to friends and colleagues to consider joining us.
As a member of AAUW you also are directly funding AAUW’s work to:
• Train millions of women to negotiate for higher salaries and benefits.
• Support state and local fair-pay legislation to ban the use of salary history in
hiring, a practice that puts women at a financial disadvantage.
• Develop more women leaders through workshops and conferences.
• Fund the research that is informing national conversations on the gender pay gap, women’s student-
debt burden, and other key equity issues.
Please share this new membership flyer (either electronically or by printing) with potential members:
AAUW STATE COLLEGE MEMBERSHIP INFO SHEET
This month, AAUW State College
member Jean Forster, a resident of
Foxdale Village, reached her hundredth
birthday. Happy Birthday and best
wishes, Jean!
Jean has been a member of AAUW State
College for a record 76 years, having
Jean celebrates
joined the branch in 1945. She served as
100th birthday. branch co-president from 1989-1991.
We caught up with Jean recently and
asked about her time in AAUW and what aspects of AAUW
In 1959, Jean spoke at an AAUW state have been most important to her.
conference. She is pictured with past branch
president E-Tu Zen Sun. Today, both Jean and Jean joined AAUW as a college graduate and felt she should
E-tu are honorary life members of AAUW State be participating in local organizations and activities and using
College. what she learned to help others. Having lived in several
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different countries throughout her married life, Jean has always appreciated AAUW as a women’s organization
that works internationally. She fondly remembers working with E-tu Sun in programs and through study
groups, such as the one on international relations, that helped people understand what is going on in the
world. Jean added that she has always felt that more women should become diplomats, as they are able to
perceive and conceive in a way that many men can’t. As a result, she wishes more women would get involved
in politics.
Like to spell? Mid-State Literacy (MSLC) is holding the 22nd Annual Ron & Mary
Maxwell Community Spelling Bee on August 4th via Zoom (6:00 pm). The event is sponsored by several local
companies, groups, and individuals who raise money for MSLC. It’s a fun event which provides vital funds for
local Adult Basic Literacy and English as a Second Language students.
Great news! Jackie Esposito, a new (and returning) AAUW State College member, has volunteered to be one
of the three spellers needed to make our team. To join her, contact Jackie, archivist122@yahoo.com.
Did you know: Mid-State Literacy Council helps 200 students each year, two-thirds of whom are women.
Learn more about MSLC services at www.midstateliteracycouncil.org.
Please send submissions for the June 14th Branch Bulletin to Connie Schroeder,
connieschroeder@gmail.com, by June 7th. Bulletins are sent electronically to branch
members and friends by the date of issue and also are accessible at
https://aauwstatecollege.org/blog/.
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